Eins langt og augað eygir (As far as the eye can see)
The phrase at the top of the eponymously titled painting, Eins langt of augað eygir (As far as the eye can see), is intended to suggest the idea of distance while at the same time stating the obvious fact that the eye literally sees no further than the wall’s two dimensional surface. The text and numerical reference at the bottom of the wall painting refers to a fictional set of colors Andrésson designated as being uniquely Icelandic, though there is an element of the absurd intended by this exercise in classification.
Throughout his relatively short career, Andrésson used conceptual strategies to explore aspects of cultural and national identity. The "Icelandic Colors" series, of which this work is one example, began in the late 1980s and continued until the end of the artist’s life in 2007. Raised in a home for the blind as the sighted child of blind parents, he was accustomed to describing things and ideas in the absence of visual imagery; thus, he grew to be particularly attuned to the relationship between language and perception. The lyrical word play inherent in Eins langt of augað eygir questions notions of perception, and in particular the way in which words suggest visual images, at the same time it also functions as visual poetry.
Throughout his relatively short career, Andrésson used conceptual strategies to explore aspects of cultural and national identity. The "Icelandic Colors" series, of which this work is one example, began in the late 1980s and continued until the end of the artist’s life in 2007. Raised in a home for the blind as the sighted child of blind parents, he was accustomed to describing things and ideas in the absence of visual imagery; thus, he grew to be particularly attuned to the relationship between language and perception. The lyrical word play inherent in Eins langt of augað eygir questions notions of perception, and in particular the way in which words suggest visual images, at the same time it also functions as visual poetry.
Artwork Details
- Title: Eins langt og augað eygir (As far as the eye can see)
- Artist: Birgir Andrésson (Icelandic, 1955–2007)
- Date: 2004
- Medium: Paint
- Dimensions: Variable
- Classification: Installations
- Credit Line: Purchase, Barbara and Morry Levinson Gift (by exchange), 2017
- Object Number: 2017.63
- Rights and Reproduction: © The Estate of Birgir Andrésson
- Curatorial Department: Modern and Contemporary Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Katrín Sigurðardóttir
2010
Pipilotti Rist
2020/2023
Returned to lender
Lucio Fontana
1951/2019
Returned to lender
Lucio Fontana
1964/2019
Returned to lender
Lucio Fontana
1967/2019
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.